The World Rivers Day is observed on the fourth Sunday of September to increase awareness about rivers and to encourage their conservation. As this year’s Rivers Day is marked on September 22, here’s a quick look at the most polluted five rivers in India as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
As per the CPCB, the Ganga has 49 polluted stretches. The holy river is most polluted in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. This, despite the government spending over Rs 32000 crore for the Clean Ganga mission since 2014.
The CPCB has found 35 stretches of pollution in the Yamuna. Around 76% of Yamuna’s pollution comes from Delhi though only 2% of the river runs through the national capital.
Also known as Dakshin Ganga, the Godavari, the second longest river in India, has 31 stretches of pollution. Partially treated or untreated sewerage of over 34 cities and hundreds of towns in its basin are the primary sources of pollution.
The river has 27 stretches of pollution. It originates in Himachal Pradesh and flows through Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
The CPCB has found 20 polluted stretches in the Gomti river, a tributary of the Ganga, that flows through nine most populated districts of Uttar Pradesh.